Conrad C. Shuman, age 85, passed away suddenly on January 16, 2018 at home. He was born in Mainville, Pennsylvania to Ray Hess Shuman and Evelyn Hess Shuman. He is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Patricia (Taafe) Shuman; five daughters: Laurene Eckbold (Roy), LaVerne Shuman, LaDawn Goodwin (Dan), Darlene Jordan (Sam) and Deanna Henderson (Terry); three stepsons: Justin McCann, Jason McCann, and Thane McCann (Erica); a foster son, Bruno Crudo; his first wife and good friend, Helen T. Shuman; and his sister, Margaret (Peg) Pickin. He adored his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents and siblings, Donald, Franklin, Nancy, and Linda.
Con (“Connie” to some) had a lengthy distinguished career in education, from his beginning as an agriculture teacher at Kennard-Dale HS in Fawn Grove, PA to his retirement as Superintendent of the New Castle County Vo-Tech School District. He was particularly proud of his role in the formation of an independent vocational-technical school district in Delaware, which was one of the first of its kind in the U.S.
Conrad highly valued education for himself and his children. He obtained his degrees from Penn State University, the University of Delaware and Rutgers University. He was able to attend college in large part due to the G.I. Bill, as he had served in the Army during the Korean War.
In his retirement, he was a successful businessman, owning and operating a chain of childcare centers, a domestic cleaning service and various real estate ventures. Con was a terrific handyman, using his skills to build and renovate multiple houses and doing other special projects with his extensive tool collection.
The memorial service celebrating Conrad’s life will be held on Thursday, January 25 at 11 a.m. at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, preceded by visitation at 10. In lieu of flowers, donations made in Con’s memory can be sent to the Well Coffeehouse [thewellde.com] to support local and global missions, or Future Farmers of America [ffa.org].
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